Latest news with #WestVirginiaLandTrust
Dominion Post
5 days ago
- Dominion Post
An outdoor holiday: Celebrate National Trails Day
MORGANTOWN — Lace up your hiking boots and grab a water bottle. Saturday is National Trails Day, a celebration of nature, history and community. Whether a beginner looking for a leisurely stroll or a seasoned hiker, there are plenty of options to help make the most of this day for the outdoors. National Trails Day, organized annually by the American Hiking Society, shines a spotlight on the thousands of miles of trails maintained by federal, state and local agencies. According to the American Hiking Society, it's an opportunity to 'create community and connect with the people in your area who share your love of being outside.' Day trips History buffs will enjoy a National Trails Day hike at Tygart Lake State Park . Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, participants will hike out to the dam while learning about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the location's history and the mission behind the park's development. For a bit of a longer drive, Blackwater Falls State Park is hosting a guided hike beginning at 10 a.m. Meet a park naturalist in the lodge lobby for an interpretive hike covering portions of three different trails. This family-friendly hike is less than two miles long and winds through forests of conifers and northern hardwoods, offering a glimpse at mountain holly, serviceberry, and other native plants — and possibly some wildlife. Staying local Closer to home, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the day. Morgantown offers a range of accessible and scenic trails. The Mon River Rail-Trail is a beautiful paved, multi-use pathway perfect for walking, running or biking. Coopers Rock State Forest is just a short drive away and offers everything from a breathtaking scenic overlook to hikes and backwoods adventures. The West Virginia Land Trust does not have anything planned this weekend, but 'If you are looking for something to do, the West Virginia Land Trust has nine nature preserves open to the public,' said Jessica Spatafore, director of marketing and communication. Toms Run Nature Preserve in Morgantown is a WVLT property that many consider to be a beautiful local gem.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bird watchers flock to Mon County for Mother's Day bird walk
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Around 16 bird watchers spent their Mother's Day morning observing mothers in nature as thousands of migratory birds return to West Virginia from their winter vacations in Central and South America for the breeding season in North America. Field Trip Coordinator for Mountaineer Audubon Katie Fallon took birders on an extensive bird walk through Tom's Run Preserve, a 320-acre section of forest in Monongalia County under the stewardship of the West Virginia Land Trust. 'Mother's Day is a great time to have a birdwalk because a lot of our migratory species that have been down in Central and South America for the winter are back here setting up their nesting territories, getting ready to become mothers themselves perhaps,' Fallon said. Morgantown 'Arts Walk' dates and times for 2025 The Scarlet Tanager pictured above was just one of 29 different species of birds observed during the walk. But aside from acting as a shelter for the area's wildlife, Executive Director of West Virginia Land Trust Brent Bailey explained to 12 News that Tom's Run also helps us humans as well. 'Tom's Run is a preserve that protects water, and the streams that flow off of Tom's Run go into the intake for Morgantown's drinking water supply,' Bailey said. 'By protecting land, you can protect water.' If you want to visit Tom's Run for yourself to walk its trails or go on your own birding excursion, you can find the West Virginia Land Trust's page on the preserve here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
